Apparatus for forming characters and designs on silver-plated flatware



May 25, 1943. -r COOPER 2,319,796

APPARATUS FOR FORMING CHARACTERS AND DESIGNS ON SILVER-PLATED FLATWARE Filed Oct. 11, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Theodore Umper TTORNEYJ T. COOPER APPARATUS FOR FORMING CHARACTERS AND May 25, 1943. 2,319,796

' DESIGNS ON SILVER-PLATED FLA'IWARE I Filed Oct. 11, 1939 4'Sheets -Sheet 2 INVENTOR Theodore 600 1 g W/i ATTORNEY T. COOPER APPARATUS FOR FORMING CHARACTERS AND DESIGNS ON SILVER-PLATED FLATWARE Filed Oct. 11, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 25, 1943.

l N V E N TO R T/reudore 600,0er BY [kW WMQ fi ATTO R N EY 1': COOPER APPARATUS FOR F May 25, 1943.

. 1 onmmc- CHARACTERS AND msszens 0N SILVER-PLATED 'FLATWARE Filed Oct. 11, 1939 4 SheetsSheet 4 A TORNEY Patented May 25, 1943 APPARATUS FOR FORMING CHARACTERS AND DESIGNS ON SILVER-PLATED FLAT- WARE Theodore Cooper, Trumbull, Conn., assignor to International Silver Company, Meriden, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 11,1939, Serial No. 298,948

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of and stamping device for forming characters, designs and the like on silver-plated flatware for table use and other articles.

One object of the invention is a stamping means in which the deformation of the surface of the work by the stamper is substantially uniform irrespective of slight variations in thickness or depth of the work.

One object of the invention is a stamping device in which the characters or the like formed on the work are of uniform depth, irrespective of slight variations in thickness of the work.

One object of the invention is a novel and improved stamping device for forming characters, designs and the like on silver-plated ware without breaking the plating thereon.

A further object of the invention is a stamping device of the above indicated character which is characterized by its simplicity and compactness and by the fact that it may be used by unskilled operators to form the characers and designs upon the articles in an artistic and ready manner.

A further object of the invention is a novel and improved method for forming characters, designs and the like upon silver-plated ware and other articles.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a part of the device;

Fig. 2 is a view thereof at right angles to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through a part of the device;

Fig. 4. is a sectional view along the line I-4 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 are sectional views along the lines 55, 6-45, l-'I and 8-8 of Figs. 4, 1 and 2 respectively;

Figs. 5a and 5b are further views of the modification of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a View of a modified form of support for the article on which the characters and designs are to be formed; and

Fig. 10 is a further view thereof.

The invention is illustrated as embodied in a small, compact device which may be supported upon the counter of the retail store for ready access to and operation by the flatware salesman. In the conventional practice of forming the characters and designs on the flatware by pressure operations, the tendency is to either break the plating of the flatware or to cause an undue flow of the metal or both. In one aspectof the invention it resides in the forming of the characters and designs by stamping them on the flatware in a manner to avoid both the breaking of the plating and undue flow of metal and also in a manner to obtain the artistic marking required for the article or articles concerned.

Referring to the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the flatware to be stamped is positioned upon a bed plate rest A and the stamping element B carrying the desired character or design to be formed on the flatware is caused first to engage and yieldingly hold the piece of flatware on the bed plate A, and while so held a hammer blow i delivered to the stamp B to form the character or design on the yieldingly and firmly held piece of flatware.

The device comprises base supports I, these supports being of sufiicient length and being spaced a sufiicient distance apart to provide a firm, stable base for the stamping means. Upon these supports I is disposed abase plate 2 and. upon this base plate 2 a pair of L-bracket members 3 are supported and fastened as by means of the bolts 4 which fasten the member I, 2 and 3 rigidly together. A pair of side plate upstanding frame members 5 are fastened to the inner pieces of the L-bracket members 3 as by means of bolts 6. These side frame members 5 extend laterally over the bed plate A with the lower parts of these plates being cut away beginning at the bracket 3 to afford lateralaccess to the bed plate A and the stamper B. These side plates 5 are firmly held at their upper ends by means of a spacing sleeve I with the bolt I passing through the sleeve and the plates 5 to assist in forming these frames 5 and brackets 3 into a rigid, unyielding frame unit. The stamper B is carried by a reciprocating carrier C, this carrier C being guided on a vertical guide track.

formed by the side plates 5 and two pairs of guide elements 8 and 9. The guide members 8 are fastened to the inner sides of the plate members 5 by means of screws I0 and. the cotter pins II, while the guide track members 9 are fastened to the inner sides of the plate members 5 by means of the screws I2.

The stamp carrier and mechanism for operating the same, denoted by the letter 0, comprises a rectangular reciprocating frame consisting of two elongated plate members I5 which are spaced by the elongated plate members I6, these elongated plate elements being secured in any suitable manner, as, for example, by the screw bolts IT. The reciprocating housing thus formed by the plates I5 and I6 is divided into an upper and lower compartment by means of a partition or stop element Hi,- this partition element being securely fastened to the inner sides of the casing elements l5 and It in any suitable manner. The compartment below the stop 58 contains the support 19 into a recess formed in the bottom of which the stamper B is removably carried, and a fastening bolt or screw passes through an opening through the one side of the supporting block [9 to engage and firmly mount the stamper B therein. The stamper support or block i9 is mounted for relative reciprocating movement with respect to the rectangular casing !5, I5, this being effected by the pin slot connection comprising the pin 2| mounted in the support or block l9 and a slot 22 formed longitudinally of one of a the side plates [5. The support or block 19 carries at its upper end a hammer blow receivin v pin 23 which extends up through a central opening provided in the partition I8. A spring 24 surrounds this pin 23 and engages the partition i5 and the support or block [9 yieldingly to urge the support or block it outwardly of the rectangular casing l5 and [6, the pin slot connections 2! and 22 limiting this outward movement. The compartment above the partition it contains a hammer element 26 which is of rectangular shape in cross section corresponding to the casing l5, l6 and is provided with a recess 2'1 for accornodating the upper end of the pin 23, and, as hereinafter described for delivering a hammer blow to the pin 23, the bottom 25' of the recess 2? forming the hammer blow surface for engaging the upper end of the pin 23.

The upper end of the casing 55, i5 is closed by a member 29 which is fastened by means of cotter pins passing through the upper ends of the casing member 16. An adjustable screw 3| is carried by this closure 29 and this screw 3| carries on its inner end an abutment 32 for adjustably engaging a power spring 33 contained in the upper compartment, which spring at its lower end engages the hammer 26. The spring is aligned so as to occupy a central position by means of the cylindrical projection 32' formed on the abutment 32 and by means of a similar projection 34 carried by the hammer 25. The hammer 25 is provided at a point adjacent its lower end and to one side of the recess 21' with a'tran'sverse recess for the reception of a cylindrical cam member 35. This transverse recess merges into the recess 21 and the cam 35 is provided on one side thereof with a cylindrical cut-out 36 which cut-out 36 in one position'of the cam is in alignment with and forms a continuation of the side of the recess 21, but in another position is not so aligned with the result that the cam tends to block this side of the recess. An operating trip lever 31 is formed integrally with the cam 35 and is accommodated in a recess 38 formed on one side of the hammer 26 and at right angles to the cam 35. The free end 31 of this trip lever 31 is disposed in a slot 39 formed in one of these side plate members 15, and a spring 40 is disposed underneath the trip 31 with one end of the spring disposed in a recess formed in the trip and the other end of the spring being suitably anchored to the hammer 26, as, for example, being disposed in a recess formed therein, namely, on the lower wall of the recess 38. This spring 40 tends to urge the trip lever 3'! in anupward direction to cause the cam 35 to block the movement of the pin 23 within the recess 2"! of the hammer. Upon downward movement of the casing 15, the upper wall 39' of the slot 39 formed in th member l5 engages the free end 3? of the trip, moving the latter downwardly against the tension of the spring 4%! to unlock the cam 35 and the pin 23 as shown in Fig. 8. The carrier casing l5, :6 in the particular embodiment shown, is reciprocated against the tension of the springs 2 and 33 by means of a handle 52 carried by a crank arm 43, which in turn is fastened to an elongated pinion 44, which is .iournalled in bearing members 45 carried by the frame plates 5 and meshes with avertical rack 55 which is fastened to the outside of a casing member H3. The rack 45 may be fastened in any suitable manner, as, for example, by means of the bolts 4?.

The bed plate A for supporting the flatware 55 in position to be stamped is removably anchored in position by the pins 5! carried by the plate 2. This bed plate in the particular embodiment of Figs. 2, 4 and 5 comprises a main support 52 having slots 53 in its ends for accommodating loosely and in an automatic and adjustable manner the pins 5!. The support member 52 is bevelled both laterally and longitudinally on its bottom supporting surface, as indicated in Figs. 5a and 5b, and this construction together with the loose mount of the pins 5! provides for and assures the automatic universal alignment and positioning with respect to the stamper B when the latter is caused to engage the article 55 resting upon the support 52. In the particular embodiment shown the support 52 is provided with an auxiliary removable and replaceable bearing member 55, the latter being circularly formed in horizontal cross-section and resting in a circular recess formed in the upper part of the bearing member 52. This auxiliary and removable bearing member 55 is provided with a curved bearing surface 55' on its upper surface for receiving the similarly curved handle of the flatware 55, and an aligning pin 55 is carried by the support 52 and engages a recess formed in the auxiliary bearing member 55 for efiecting proper alignment of this auxiliary bearing member. The support 52 carries a guard or guide member 51, this guard or guide member 57 being provided with a curved-like centering part 57 for engaging the end of the piece of flatware 55 when the latter is inserted in position over and in engagement with the auxiliary bearing member 55. The guide5l is adjustably mounted on the support 52 for determining the point longitudinally of the handle of the 'Ware 55 where the marking is to be effected. In the particular embodiment this adjustable mount is effected by mounting the guard or guide 57 on a pin 58 loosely passing through a transverse opening formed in the support 52 and this pin 58 being screwt-hreadecl for the reception of :a nut 59. By screwing the nut 59 one way or the other on the pin 58 the guard or guide 51 may be moved further away from orcloser' to the auxiliary bearing member 55.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is shown a modified bed plate A. This comprises a mainfsupport 52 which is generally similar to the support 52. In this case the guide or guardfil is carried by a pair of pins 62, 63 passing laterally through the support 52 and one of these pins, namely, pin 62, is screwthreaded for the reception of "adjustable nuts 64 disposed on the opposite sides of the support 52 'for adjusting the distance of theguide or guard 5| from the support 52. In this embodimen-t'a further guide or guard 65 is disposed in front of the support 52', this front guard being provided with openings for accommodating the pins 62, B3, and a holding nut 66 disposed on the screwthreaded pin 62 engages this front guard to hold it tight against one of the adjusting nuts for the guard 6!. This front guard is provided with an opening 68 for the reception of the handle of a piece of flatware which is to be stamped. Thus, the flatware is guided both rearwardly and forwardly of the support I to assure alignment thereof. In this embodiment the support 52' is provided with an integral bearing surface 61 upon which the flatware rests before being stamped.

The operation of stamping the flatware is as follows: With the stamper B elevated as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the operator positions a piece of flatware 50 upon the bed plate A and then while still holding the piece of flatware 50, if necessary, the operator by means of the crank handle and crank 42, 43 operates the casing IE, IS in a downward direction to cause the stamper B to engage the article to be stamped. This engagement is a firm yielding engagement due to the spring 24 which is put under tension by this engagement and the further downward movement of the casing. With the flatware thus firmly and yieldably held the further operation of the handle 42 moves the casing l5, ing the cam 35 to engage the upper end of the pin 23 thereby arresting the downward movement of the hammer 25 and compressing the power spring 33 preparatory to delivering the hammer blow to the pin 23 and to the stamper support l9. This further. downward movement continues until the upper wall 39' of the slot 39 engages the trip lever 31 and moves it far enough down to release the hammer 26. Upon such release the hammer delivers the required hammer blow to effect the marking. The exact force of the blow may be gauged and predetermined by adjustment of the tension of the spring 33 through the adjusting screw 3|. Upon the delivery of the hammer of the article the handle i2, 43 is brought back to the position shown in the drawings whereupon the marked article may be removed and another inserted. The movement of the operating handle 12, #13 is a continuous one from the beginning of the stroke to the end of the impact. After the stamper B engages the article to be marked the spring 24 is gradually compressed during the remainder of the stroke yieldingly to set and hold the article upon the automatically adjustable and aligning bed plate A, and after the cam 35 engages the upper end of the pin 23 and during the remainder of the stroke the tension of the power spring 33 is also brought to bear upon the article through the pin 23 and the stamper holder 19 to firmly hold the parts in proper relative marking position.

In the particular embodiment herein illustrated, there is a substantial clearance between the upper end of the pin 23 and the cam or dog 35 in the off or extended position. This is the preferred arrangement for working on certain articles like finished tableware because the article being worked on is automatically aligned and adjusted mainly through the action of the spring 24 on the universally mounted support 52 to receive the marking effected when the hammer is released under the power spring. The second stage of the operation is the storing of energy in the power spring 33 and the simuli6 downwardly causblow and the marking taneous further gradual energization of the spring 24 followed by the release of the hammer 26 under the force of the spring 33. The spring 24 in addition to its automatic aligning function also holds the stamper element in the off position outwardly of the casing with the pin 3| engaging the bottom wall of the slot 22. In addition to these functions, this spring also has the important functions of assisting the hammer in driving the tool B home to the desired depth of the marking on the work and at the same time to prevent rebound-s of the tool after the hammer blow is struck. The stronger and more powerful spring 24 is, the less powerful the hammer blow need be to obtain a definite predetermined depth of marking. The prevention of rebounds eliminates the impairment and scratching of the surface of the finished article which are caused if the spring 24 is merely powerful enough to keep the pin 21 in engagement with the end wall of the slot 22. The marking operations may be rapidly and efficiently effected by the salesman of flatware in retain stores and according to the method of marking and stamping above set forth and with the device and mechanism set forth this may be effected without injuring or breaking the plate on the ware and without causing any undue flow of metal and the marking is accurately and artistically efieoted.

Another advantage of the structure of the stamping device of this application is that characters or designs are formed of uniform depth, irrespective of slight variation in thickness or vertical dimensions of the work being operated upon.

, For example, if the articles should vary in thickness or depth beyond the permitted tolerances. the impressions made by the stamper would be substantially the same on all these articles. This is :due to the fact that the force exerted by the power spring and the hammer blow is substantially the same irrespective of the slight variations of the work and this is not true with conventional stamping devices with which I am familiar.

I claim:

1. In a device for forming characters and designs upon metallic articles and the like, an adjustable support for the articles, a pair of upright frame members spaced from each other, a guide track carried by said frame members, an elongated rectangular casing guided in said track, a stop or partition member disposed in said casing intermediate its ends, a stamper support guided in said casing at a point below said stop member, a pin-slot connection between said stamper support and said casing providing for limited relative movement, a pin carried by said stamper support and projecting upwardly past said stop member, a spring engaging said stop member at one end and said stamper support at the other and surrounding said pin, a hammer member disposed in said casing above said stop member and having a recess for the recept-ion of the upper end of said pin, a power spring disposed in said casing and engaging the upper end thereof at one end and engaging said hammer at its other end, an oscillatory cam carried by said hammer and adapted in one position to engage the upper end of said pin and in another position to permit the telescoping of said hammer and said pin, said cam being mounted for oscillation about an axis substantially perpendicular to that of the hammer reciprocation, a tripping member secured to said cam and having an operative connection with said casing for tripping the hammer at a predetermined position of the casingand means for operating said casing in said track in opposition to the tension of said springs.

2. A stamping device for table flatware and other articles comprising a stationary guide frame member, a reciprocable casing member guided in said frame, said casing member having upper and. lower chambers and having a vertical slot in one wall of the upper chamber, a stamper support disposed in said lower chamber'a-nd being mounted for relative movement with respect to the casing, a spring engaging at one end a stop fixed to the casing at a point between the chambers, said stamping member carrying a pin extending beyond said stop, a hammer mounted in said upper chamber for reciprocating movements therein, a power spring engaging said hammer and adapted to be put under tension by movement of said casing, an oscillatory locking member carried by the hammer-having a. part thereof disposed in the path of said pin in one position thereof and mounted for oscillation about an axis substantially perpendicular to that of the hammer reciprocation and means integral with said member and projecting into said slot for releasing said look at predetermined relative positions of the casing and the hammer.

3. In a device for forming characters and designs on table flatware and other articles, a pair of upright frame members spaced from each other and forming a guide for a reciprocable casing, an elongated casing guided in said frame members, a s-tamper support and a hammer disposed respectively in the lower and upper parts of said casing, springs engaging said stamper support and said hammer, an oscillatory cam or looking member carried by said hammer and adapted to occupy two positions, said cam being mounted for oscillation about an aXis substantially perpendicular to that of the hammer reciprocation, an operating member carried by the stamping member and adapted to engage the locking member in one position to carry the hammer along with it and a tripping member operatively associated with said locking member and the casing for moving the locking member to a position out of the path of the operating memher.

4. In a device of the character set forth, a guide frame, a reciprocable casing therein having a vertical slot in one wall thereof, a centrally apertured partition within said casing dividing the same into upper and lower chambers, a stamping element within the lower chamber keyed to the casing wall for limited vertical movement within the lower chamber, a pin carried by said element and a coiled spring surrounding said pin and tending to move said ele ment away from said partition, a hammer element Within the upper chamber having a central passage extending upward from its lower end for reception of said pin, a power spring urging said hammer downward, said hammer having a cylindrical recess formed therein substantially at right angles to the direction of reciprocation of the hammer, a cylindrical cam mounted in said recess adjacent said aperture for oscillating movement therein and biased into a position to block said passage, a trip arm connected with said cam and extending into the slot in said casing wall, said arm when moved by engagement with the upper end of said slot serving to oscillate said cam against the bias thereof into posi tion to unblock said passage.

5. In a device for forming characters and the like upon table flatware and other articles the combination of means for supporting an article to be marker, said means being mounted for rocking movement to provide for self-alignment, a stamping member adapted to engage said article while supported on said means, means including a spring for first causing said stamper yieldingly to engage and firmly hold the flatware article upon the self-aligning supporting means, and means including said last named means and a hammer element and a second spring for applying a hammer blow to said stamper while thus engaging the flatware article.

6. In a device for forming characters and the like on table flatware and other articles, a work support for an article, said support being mounted for rocking movement to provide for selfalignment, a guide frame, a stamper adapted to be brought into engagement with an article to be stamped disposed on said work support and mounted in said frame for limited reciprocating movements therein, a hammer element reciprocably mounted in said frame and adapted to deliver a hammer blow to said stamper, a power spring engaging the hammer, a second spring engaging at one end a stop and at its other end said stamper, and means for first causing said stamper yieldingly to engage said article under the tension of said second named spring without energizing the power spring and causing the same to align itself through said self-aligning work support and thereafter releasably energizing said power spring to cause the hammer to deliver a stamping blow to said stamper.

7. In a metal working device of the character set forth, the combination of a support for the work, said support being mounted for rocking movement to provide for self-alignment, a stationary frame and a frame reciprocably mounted in said stationary frame and a member carrying a tool adapted to engage said work while supported on said self-aligning support, a hammer element for delivering a blow to said tool, a power spring for actuating said hammer, a second spring engaging said tool carrying member, and means for actuating said reciprocable frame and causing said tool to engage the work under the influence of both of said springs and then releasing said hammer to deliver a hammer blow to the tool under the influence of said power spring.

8. In a metal working device of the character set forth, the combination of a-support for the work which support is mounted for rocking movement in all directions to provide for selfalignment, a stationary frame and a frame reciprocably mounted in said stationary frame and a member carrying a tool adapted to engage said work while supported on said self-aligning support, a hammer element for delivering a blow to said tool, a power spring for actuating said hammer, a second spring engaging said tool carrying member, and means for actuating said reciprocalole frame and causing said tool to engage the work under the influence of both of said springs and then releasing said hammer to deliver a hammer blow to the tool under the influence of said power spring.

THEODORE COOPER. 

